How to Choose the Best Floor Tiles

Picking the right floor tiles for each room can make a world of difference in your home. With all the different types of floor tiles available these days, you may be wondering which would best suit your floor. Well, some tiles are more suitable for certain purposes than others. What are all the factors one should consider at a tiling contractor in Singapore?

Hardness

The hardness of a floor tile is calculated using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which measures how resilient the tile is in withstanding wear and tear as well as scratches. If you are tiling an area that experiences very heavy foot traffic, such as the entrance corridor, you will want to go for a tile with more hardness.

The Mohs scale classifies tiles into five main categories as follows:

Category I: Tiles in this category have the least hardness of all the rest, and thus are not suitable for any kind of foot traffic. They are typically only used to tile residential or commercial walls.

Category II: These tiles are slightly more durable, but are still only meant to take light foot traffic. We do not recommend using Category II tiles for any floors that will be frequently walked on, such as kitchens, bathrooms or living rooms.

Category III: Tiles are suitable for general residential purposes and in commercial areas with lighter traffic. They can also be used to tile other surfaces such as kitchen counters.

Category IV: This type of tile can be used for any residential purpose, as well as light to medium commercial and industrial use. They can be found in restaurants, offices and hospitals, to name a few. You might want to go for Category IV tiles for areas in your home that see higher traffic, such as entryways.

Category V: The most durable of tiles, these are typically used in commercial or industrial floors that experience heavy amounts of foot traffic each day, such as train stations, malls and airports.

Porosity

The porosity of a tile affects how much water it can absorb. This factor is especially important if you are installing tiles in an area with a lot of moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens and yards. Tile porosity is measured according to the percentage of water a tile can absorb, with a lower percentage meaning the tile is more suitable for wet areas. In other words, if you are looking to tile an area that frequently gets wet or damp, you will want to look for more moisture-resistant tiles.

These percentages can be classified into four main categories: Impervious, Vitreous, Semi-vitreous and Non-vitreous, with Impervious having the lowest water absorption rate of 0.5 percent or less, while Non-vitreous has the highest water absorption rate of more than 7 percent. Always check the porosity rating of a tile with your Tiles contractor in Singapore.

Friction

Most of us are no stranger to slipping on smooth tiles, especially in wet places such as the bathroom. Unfortunately, most tiles are made of slippery materials and can be especially easy to slip on if they are lubricated with water, which can pose a serious problem to children and elderly. For bathroom, shower and yard areas, it is a good idea to create a slip-resistant floor. This can be done using two measures.

For one, each tile has a coefficient of friction (CoF). This measurement can range from 0.3 to 0.6. with a smaller number indicating less friction between two surfaces. For instance, two items rated at 0 CoF produce no friction when moved against each other. Some slippery materials can have a rating as low as 0.04. Of course, you would want to look for a higher CoF to tile wet areas.

The other step you can take to ensuring your floor is slip-resistant is to go for smaller tile sizes instead of a few large tiles. We suggest using no bigger than 4 by 4 tile sizes. With smaller tiles, you will have to fit more of them into one area, which creates a larger number of grooves between the tiles on your floor. This helps to generate more friction and reduces the risk of someone slipping on the floor. On the other hand, if you have large, smooth tiles for your shower floor, there is an increased risk of someone slipping and sliding on a single tile.

As we have seen, there are numerous types of floor tiles available, but not all of them are meant for the same purposes. If you are looking for the best flooring contractor in Singapore, you have come to the right place. When you start your renovation journey with us, you can enjoy the breeze of having our expert team do all the work to tile your floor. Take a look at our wide variety of floor tiles serving any and every function!